FaultScore report
Owners have filed 132 complaints about the 2003 KIA Spectra with NHTSA between 2002 and 2019. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 10 worst.
FaultScore 71/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the KIA Spectra.
How this is worked out132
Complaints
16
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
12
Injuries reported
53,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
38%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 5,130 mi
1 crashes, 1 fires · median 53,503 mi
Median failure at 70,000 miles
Median failure at 100,000 miles
Median failure at 5,130 miles
Median failure at 80,500 miles
Median failure at 29,000 miles
Median failure at 113,276 miles
Median failure at 11,000 miles
Median failure at 2,400 miles
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 KIA SPECTRA 99,000 MILES. I AM HAVING TO FILL UP WITH BRAKE FLUID ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. BRAKE PROPORTION VALVE IS LEAKING. SEVERAL SITES AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. WHY NO RECALL WHEN THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD ORDINARILY NEED TO BE REPLACED?
NHTSA complaint #10410306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER BLACKED OUT, CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND MULTIPLE BRUISES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BRUISES TO THE BODY AND A TOOTH WAS KNOCKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. A POICE REPORT WAS FILED.
NHTSA complaint #10378772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE LEAKING ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE BACKING UP AND RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. HOW LONG UNTIL SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10360347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE 2003 KIA SPECTRA CAUGHT ON FIRE. THEREWAS NOTHING LEFT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRIAL FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10190326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT MY 2003 KIA SPECTRA BRAND NEW,KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE,MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 71,OOO MILES. I HAD THE SO CALLED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. THEY DID NOT COVER ANY OF IT THEY SAID BECAUSE I LIVE IN GA IT GETS HOT,SO THE WARRANTY WONT COVER IT. ALSO,I WAS RECENTLY IN A FENDER BENDER AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,AND WE HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE KIA PLACE BECAUSE OF MINOR STUFF SUCH AS THE AIR NOT WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYING ON. THE 2003 KIA SPECTRA'S ARE A JOKE AND IF YOU LIVE WERE IT GETS HOT OR TOO COLD YOUR WARRANTY IS OF NON EFFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10174655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR.*AK UPDATED 12/27/05.
NHTSA complaint #10143392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY CAR IS LEAKING GAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDERNEATH THE CAR I ALSO HAVE GAS FUMES IN MY CAR TOO, I AM LOSING A LOT OF GAS IN MY CAR.I HAVE STRANGERS POINTING OUT THAT MY CAR IS LEAKING GAS AND THE SMELL OF GAS WHEN I PARK MY CAR IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT WHEN I DO SHOPPING, I FEAR THAT MY CAR WILL GO UP IN FLAMES AND I HAVE MY CHILDREN RIDE IN THE CAR AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FUMES OF GAS I SEE THAT THERE WAS THE SAME RECALLS ON 2004 KIA SPECTRA. MINE IS IS A 2003 WHICH I HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEMS WITH A GAS LEAK . I NEED THIS TO BE ON A RECALL LIST TO GET REPAIR ASAP , FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY KIDS.
NHTSA complaint #11180852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
DIRT CHEAP CARS SOLD ME A CAR THAT WONT PASS INSPECTION
NHTSA complaint #11022793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
DIRT CHEAP CARS SOLD ME A CAR THAT WONT PASS INSPECTION
NHTSA complaint #11022793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD NO FRAME DAMAGE BUT I TOOK IT TO TWO GARAGES AND BOTH GARAGES INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS FRAME DAMAGE FRONT AND BACK AND THE ONE GARAGE I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FRAME DAMAGE
NHTSA complaint #11022089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID UNDERNEATH MY CAR ONE DAY AND CHECKED MY LEVEL TO FIND THAT THERE WAS BASICALLY NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. TURNS OUT IT'S THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A TREND AND HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS PREVIOUSLY. THE MECHANIC WAS SURPRISED THAT THIS WAS INDEED THE PROBLEM AFTER CALLING AND THEN GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED. THE LEAK CAME ON SUDDENLY AND WAS FAIRLY SEVER REQUIRING THAT I ADD BRAKE FLUID AFTER EVERY SHORT DRIVE. IF I HADN'T NOTICED THIS PROBLEM I LIKELY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP REAR-ENDING SOMEONE OR WORSE. IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT AMONGST THE 2000-2005 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10928686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,234. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10775422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #10637618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
AT MY COST I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE WHICH WAS CAUSING A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE CREATE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE'S BRAKES COMPLETELY FAIL IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10604760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE COVERING AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN HAS CRUMBLED AND IS COMING APART. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIR BAG IF NEEDED. VERY POOR QUALITY OF MATERIAL WAS USED FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10598803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE DASH, WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD, HAS CURLED UP AND DETACHED FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE PLASTIC DEFROSTER VENT IS ALSO CRUMBLING FROM BEING EXPOSED TO THE SUN. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW CHEAP OF MATERIALS WAS USED FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10598800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WENT TO TURN ON MY HEATER TODAY AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED MY CAR, 4-DOOR SEDAN. THE CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MANY OF THE OTHER OWNERS MENTIONED BEFORE E.G. A BRAKE FLUID LEAK, SQUEALING BRAKES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ALWAYS SLOW TO KICK IN WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP. NEVER EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR I OWNED.
NHTSA complaint #10552421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE FLUID PROPORTIONING VALVE IS LEAKING FOR NO REASON. NOT A SERVICEABLE PART. MUST BE REPLACED. NOT A WEAR AND TEAR PART EITHER. VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH 2002 AND 2003 RESEARCH STATED. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10493319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN STARTED LOOSING BRAKE FLUID RAPIDLY. MY PERFECTLY GOOD BRAKES WERE GOING OUT AND I ALMOST WRECKED MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN DICKINSON, TX IS CHARGING ME 300 DOLLARS + TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURE PART. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST PROPORTIONING VALVE HE HAS SEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED LIKE THIS IN 10+ YEARS. THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. I HAVE WROTE ALL NEWS STATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I AM PURSUING THIS AGGRESSIVELY. YOU ALL RECALLED THE 2004-2007 PROPORTIONING VALVES THEN IT SHOULD BE FOR THE EARLIER MODELS AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10481046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON ( THOUGHT IT WAS PARKING BRAKE STUCK OR BRAKE MAINTENANCE TIME ) , AFTER SPENDING OVER $400 TO GET EVERYTHING REPLACED .... IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY PROPORTIONING VALVE WENT BAD ! LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ( HAD TO REPLACE EVERY OTHER DAY ) . WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ?
NHTSA complaint #10459626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY MOTHER BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW COUPLE YEARS BACK. HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS TILL NOW. ON MY WAY TO WORK IM GOING AROUND A CURVE AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THOUGHT FOR A SECOND I ACCIDENTALLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. MY TRANSMISSION NEVER SLIPPED, SHIFTED HARD OR ANY OTHER SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. THIS IS CRAZY, NOT SURE YET IF KIA IS COVERING THEY PROMISED WARRANTY.. I REALLY HOPE SO..
NHTSA complaint #10449935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
IN APRIL OF 2009 MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING RIGHT IN THE CENTER LANE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOME, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP JUST TO FIND OUT THAT KIA WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND THE COSTS ($1550) CAME OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS QUITE OFTEN WITH THE 2003 KIA SPECTRA BUT THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL. NOW IT IS SEPTEMBER OF 2011 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AGAIN! WITH THIS VEHICLE AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT TWICE ALREADY!
NHTSA complaint #10425111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 KIA SPECTRA; BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE STARTED LEAKING AROUND 90K MILES. CONTACTED THREE LOCAL DEALERS, ALL THREE STATED THAT THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10422808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 KIA SPECTRA 99,000 MILES. I AM HAVING TO FILL UP WITH BRAKE FLUID ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. BRAKE PROPORTION VALVE IS LEAKING. SEVERAL SITES AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. WHY NO RECALL WHEN THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD ORDINARILY NEED TO BE REPLACED?
NHTSA complaint #10410306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER BLACKED OUT, CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND MULTIPLE BRUISES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BRUISES TO THE BODY AND A TOOTH WAS KNOCKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. A POICE REPORT WAS FILED.
NHTSA complaint #10378772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 KIA SPECTRA. NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF THE TRACK, AND THE IN-DOOR ASSEMBLY HAD CRUMBLED WITHIN THE DOOR. TOOK GETTING AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR THE WINDOW. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN. MOTOR STILL WORKS. A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AS IT RUNS, BUT IT IS NOT GRIPPING THE WINDOW TO LOWER IT. (STILL NOT REPAIRED).
NHTSA complaint #10377946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
2003 KIA SPECTRA. NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF THE TRACK, AND THE IN-DOOR ASSEMBLY HAD CRUMBLED WITHIN THE DOOR. TOOK GETTING AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR THE WINDOW. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN. MOTOR STILL WORKS. A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AS IT RUNS, BUT IT IS NOT GRIPPING THE WINDOW TO LOWER IT. (STILL NOT REPAIRED).
NHTSA complaint #10377946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LOW ? ADDED FLUID. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. MECHANIC STATED BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE WAS LEAKING ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA; POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN FATAL ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10371249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE LEAKING ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE BACKING UP AND RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. HOW LONG UNTIL SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10360347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS CAUSING WINDOW TO SLIDE DOWN TRACK INTO THE DOOR. THE POWER REGULATOR RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW WITH A METAL WIRE RUNNING THROUGH PLASTIC GUIDES ON A METAL TRACK. THE ENDS OF THE WIRE ARE CAPPED INSIDE A PLASTIC BRACKET TO WHICH THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED. THESE PLASTIC PARTS WEAR AND CRACK CAUSING THE WIRE TO COME LOOSE THUS PREVENTING THE WINDOW FROM BEING HELD UP.
NHTSA complaint #10353778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS CAUSING WINDOW TO SLIDE DOWN TRACK INTO THE DOOR. THE POWER REGULATOR RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW WITH A METAL WIRE RUNNING THROUGH PLASTIC GUIDES ON A METAL TRACK. THE ENDS OF THE WIRE ARE CAPPED INSIDE A PLASTIC BRACKET TO WHICH THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED. THESE PLASTIC PARTS WEAR AND CRACK CAUSING THE WIRE TO COME LOOSE THUS PREVENTING THE WINDOW FROM BEING HELD UP.
NHTSA complaint #10353778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.